Streetwise

What to Do When the Market Plays Hard to Get

The market is sending mixed signals -- so much so that analysts and fund managers have made some pretty bad calls. But the outlook isn't as gloomy as many think. Plus: A good time to buy HollyFrontier.

Like an eligible bachelor who refuses to settle down, the market's sending mixed messages and driving investors crazy.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index has come to a virtual standstill, giving investors the opportunity to play "she loves me, she loves me not" with each data point and price swing. Last Thursday, for instance, the benchmark fell 0.1%, despite a large drop in first-time jobless claims, while the 10-year Treasury yield hovers near its lowest level in 10 months. For those inclined toward...